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5 thoughts on “3. An Ageing Society”

In Canada, as the tidal wave of aging boomers begins its swell, heading for its crest in about 20 years, boomers are not terribly revered, but rather are the butt of many accusations. ‘the boomers have wrecked the planet’; ‘the boomers took the best and left the rest’; ‘boomers — it’s always about the boomers’. As one of the first of the boomers, 1947, I sense already a growing permission to engage in ‘ageism’–making judgments based on one’s years, from stereotyping to outright prejudice. Older people in shopping lines who are searching their change purse for coins can sense a huffy impatience, as though their very existence is a bother. When the boomer generation gradually dominates society due to its sheer size and force of will, my prediction is that the very word ‘boomer’ will become a symbol of ‘everything that’s wrong with our country’. That is my prediction.
Personally, however, I have never felt more alive, fit, engaged, on top of world affairs, and mentally acute. Growing older has only really made me feel better. I would not wish to return to my twenties. They were scary, due to a lack of life experience, and not having good judgment, and not trusting older generations to understand and be a guiding force. Boomers distrusted ‘anyone over 30’ during the Hippie years. thank you for posting about this very important subject.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I did a course from OldGlobe on ageing and gathered many things during the course time.
I hope we build the society where boomers carry the respect for the knowledge and wisdom they carry. Well, i dont know how exactly to comment on that prediction.

I too am a “Baby Boomer’ although born near the end of that so-called era after thee 2nd World War. There are many of us where I live now & it is rather comforting to talk with people who lived through the 60’s, 70’s & 60’s.
And it was true we never trusted anyone over 30….hahahah! The joke was on us! I figured that out when I turned 30! Perception certainly changes with age & knowledge Prakash! 😉
Sincerely, Sherri-Ellen